Listen … whether you’re a day trader, swing trader, or scalper, you’re bound to have an avalanche of data coming at you constantly.
This is why maximizing your productivity, setting up your workspace, and being as efficient as possible is crucial.
There are multiple information sources and various time frames on your charts — intraday, daily, yearly, technical indicators, and news feeds.
StocksToTrade Breaking News Chat can help keep you up-to-date on the biggest market catalysts BEFORE the news guys hear about it……
But the more efficient you can make your desktop and monitor space, the more you can know what’s happening in the moment — allowing you to nail those perfect entries and exits.
And believe it or not, I’ve actually got a lot of experience in this exact area. Around 1995, I started a technology company right out of high school. (But more on that later…)
I get asked all the time, “Can I trade using only my laptop? Can I trade on my phone?”
We’ll answer those questions today. Then, I’ll show you the ideal desk setup for trading (based on 17 years of experience)…
The Evolution of Trading Technology
Back when I started my company, building a PC was almost like remodeling your kitchen.
You would have to sit down with a consultant (like me) and talk about options because every single addition you chose would inevitably cost a ton of money.
You had to decide, “Do I want sound?” I know that sounds funny now, but a sound card back then would be like $250. So if you were only doing spreadsheets, you’d be like, “No, I don’t need the sound card.” Graphics and monitor size were another issue. Going from a 14-inch tube monitor to a 17-inch tube monitor would be around $500 (over $1000 in today’s dollars).
Now, we live in a very different world. You can build a blazing-fast computer for what a single monitor used to cost.
Plus, the product set of laptops, tablets, and smartphones has drastically changed the way traders can interface with the market … from anywhere.
One of the best parts about trading is the freedom to work from wherever you want.
Tim Sykes is famous for trading from his laptop on a crystal-clear beach or in front of a gorgeous foreign vista…
But he doesn’t do this to look cool — he does it to prove a valuable point…
Sykes has shown millions of people that trading can provide you with freedom most other careers could only dream of.
That said, most of us aren’t Sykes.
My guess is you’re going to be trading from home — something I’ve done professionally for nearly two decades.
My 8-Monitor Overload
Like I said, I trade from home. I’m a family man and a Michigan farm boy — I’ll have to live vicariously through Sykes’ foreign travels for now…
That means I’ve spent years fiddling with different home trading, monitor, and desktop setups.
And at first, I went too far to the extreme…
About four or five years into my trading career, when things were starting to work well, I went all-out and bought eight monitors…
Image created by Midjourney
My eight trading screens sat on this huge standing desk — three to four feet deep and eight feet wide — the size of a sheet of plywood.
I needed that massive desk to fit all of these monitors and the arms, and by the time I was finished setting it up, it was double the width of my wingspan…
I quickly realized I had overdone it. Sitting there, trying to scan all of the information was impossible. We only have two eyes.
Not long after, I downsized. It had gotten to the point where my eight screens were counterproductive…
Image created by Midjourney
I was trying to watch too much at once — it was analysis paralysis, information overload…
The Perfect Desk Setup For Day Trading
So, what is the ideal desk setup for day traders? Where’s the sweet spot?
I think the perfect setup is three monitors — that’s what I recommend based on 17 years of experience.
I’ve been running my three-monitor setup for seven or eight years and I’ve had no desire to change.
Here’s what it looks like:
I run one big 34-inch monitor in the center with 90% of my charts, and my order entry form. Most of the real work is done on this monitor. I’ve got everything set up right there in the middle.
On the sides, I have two portrait monitors. I love this setup because I can see everything without having to move around and move my head around too much.
The side monitors are also 34 inches, but they’re turned on the end, so they’re tall.
That allows me to set up all the news, chat rooms, and even Slack notifications. (All of my “data feed”-type notifications go on those side monitors.)
Plus, I can see when new information is coming through (or key price levels are being breached).
I’m always running my high-of-day and VWAP scans on one of my side monitors so I can be immediately notified when those levels hit … without disturbing the charts on my center monitor.
So, I’ve got the scans on one side, and then I’ve got the chat rooms and the data feeds over on the other side, with my charts in the middle.
And because of the way they scroll, I can see out of the corner of my eye, and think, “Okay, new Breaking News … Oh, a new high of the day … Oh, a new stock on the VWAP scan … Oh, something just lit up on Oracle, etc.”
After all, we have a ton of great resources at StocksToTrade, but that means keeping track of all the data, like:
- Oracle Daily Alerts — Our FREE Wall Street-grade algorithm that delivers “One Minute Daily Stock Alerts” that can help you potentially pocket an extra 55% per trade…
- IRIS AI Swing Trade Analyzer — In this market, few areas are hotter than artificial intelligence (AI) and swing trading. See how you can combine the two to your advantage…
- Daily Income Traders — Take the first steps towards becoming a successful intraday trader. Join us daily for FREE LIVE TRAINING SESSIONS and follow market movements with the pros…
The only way I’m able to manage all of that (and know what’s going on in a usable format) is because I have a perfect, three-monitor desktop setup.
So, get rid of your monstrous wall of screens. If you look at your desk and see something you don’t need, move it elsewhere.
Start narrowing your desk setup down to the accessories that matter and I bet you’ll be a better trader for it.
Have a great day everyone. See you back here tomorrow.
Tim Bohen
Lead Trainer, StocksToTrade